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But such features will be offered as options, rather than standard equipment. The base coupe and convertible again will come with a V-6 engine to keep pricing in the $20s and appeal to buyers looking for style more than for performance. The current 3.8L/190-hp V-6, considered too noisy and underpowered, will be shelved for one of two engines. Ford is considering either a 215-hp version of the 3.0L twin-cam V-6 that powers the Taurus and Escape, or a 4.0L/210-hp single-cam V-6 as the base engine. The decision comes down to whether or not to choose the torquier 4.0L over horsepower. Opting for a V-8 will get you the same 4.6L two-valve engine as in the current car, but Ford engineers are tweaking it for more power than its current 260 horses. The next GT will offer at least 285. The news is even better for SVT devotees: Ford's in-house tuner is said to be pushing the 4.6L four-valve V-8 past the 350-hp level, aiming at the 350-hp (or more) Chevrolet Corvette. Ford has made it clear that the new Mustang will serve as the foundation for a wide array of sport coupes and convertibles, competing with everything from the Chrysler Sebring to the Corvette. However, there's no program to replace the SVT Cobra R when the new Mustang debuts, so it appears Ford won't quite take the Mustang up to stratospheric levels of performance to compete with the Z06 and Viper. On the other hand, SVT is said to be experimenting with higher levels of performance. Such engines include a 5.0L V-8, a version of the SVT F-150 Lightning's 5.4L V-8, and the most likely engine option, a supercharged version of the 4.6L four-valve V-8. Any one of these should push the Mustang past 400 hp, with a roughly equal torque number. The supercharged engine may debut in a special-edition version of the current Mustang as early as '02 or '03. BACK TO PAGE 1 or CONTINUE TO PAGE 3 Source:Motor Trend (New Article September 2001) http://www.motortrend.com/ |
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